Katie Couric is being wooed by multiple companies for a possible daytime show after her contract with CBS is up in May, Broadcasting and Cable reports.
It's not the first time the possibility of Couric's leaving her perch at "CBS Evening News" for a daytime shift has come up. That and the notion that she would take over for Larry King when he departed, have been the two most persistent rumors about what Couric might do if she doesn't stay at CBS. Sources told B&C that Couric is "looking at all her options" as the end of her contract nears. However, they also said that she would prefer to stay at CBS if she can negotiate an attractive enough deal.
One thing that will surely be going is Couric's $15 million annual salary. She will not be able to command such a sum either in a new contract with CBS or in a daytime deal, where B&C says she could make up to $5 million a year up front, with a piece of the profits of the show added to the salary.
One big test case that both Couric and the syndication companies will be looking at is Anderson Cooper. If his new talk show succeeds, it could reassure everyone on all sides of any potential negotiation that a news anchor can successfully steer a daytime show as well.